Today, the Hairy Bikers, AKA Si King and Dave Myers, are returning to BBC Two for their new series, The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain.

"We've spent two-and-a-half years going around the world investigating other people's cultures. So we wanted to get back to our roots and celebrate the food culture we have in Britain," Si, 42, explains.

The programme sees the two heading to 30 of the UK's 86 counties to see what culinary dishes they have to offer. From Colchester's oysters, to Aberdeenshire's oats, they experience the best of British cuisine.

"It's been a trip of enlightenment really. It's made me realise how fantastic our produce is and how regional identity still is so important when it comes to food," says Si.

"It's been an affirmation to get home and say 'actually our food is fantastic'. We knew it was good and interesting and if we were French or Italian, we'd be shouting about it from the hilltops.

"But we're British and slightly reserved and don't want to make a fuss. That annoys me no end, so Dave and I thought we'd be the ones to show off the cuisine if no one else is going to," Si adds.

Those tuning into the daily half-hour episodes will witness Dave and Si trying to impress locals with their culinary skills.

They will begin with the county's signature dish, moving on to a challenging cook-off against the region's finest chefs.

Both the hairies and the chefs will use the best local ingredients to create their own recipe for a culinary battle.

"We take our ingredients back to their restaurant and cook them up. A panel of nine tasters from local food suppliers then vote for which meal they like the best," Dave, 51, explains.

"As a chef, this is absolutely frightening and you certainly feel the pressure. There are quite a lot of surprises though!"

Using local produce is something Dave and Si insisted upon and they're happy to admit even they didn't realise just how diverse the UK is when it comes to producing food.

"I had no idea there was so much!" Dave exclaims. "When it comes to our fish and seafood, we export so much of it and it's so superb! We should be eating more of it!

"It's crazy, we'll go and pay so much for it in fine restaurants but if we went to the port and bought fish on a regular basis we could all have it. Doing this programme has really opened my eyes", Dave adds.

So it seems we can all stand proud of our homegrown menus. Yet do those outside of the UK recognise the diverse food we're producing?

"I think it's changing and the UK is getting a good name for itself," Dave says. "They say Italian food is great and I do absolutely love it but the range and palette is quite limited - if you're going to an Italian restaurant, it will broadly be similar to the next one. I think France is slipping, outside of America, France eats more McDonalds than any other country.

"In the UK we've got a multicultural attitude. We've got so many influences. It seems we're now eager to eat properly and we're interested in cooking. For example, at the BBC Good Food Show this summer 100,000 people turned up. For the winter event there were even more," Dave explains.

The two bikers may be busy highlighting the great local produce available in the country, but they admit there are preconceived ideas about what buying local involves - the main sore-point being that it's more expensive than heading to a supermarket.

Si disputes this: "Buying local doesn't necessarily mean you've got to buy organic. Actually, by supporting your local green grocer or butcher it's more likely to be cheaper than a supermarket."

However, if it does cost that little bit more, Si thinks it's worth it. "We throw a third of fruit and vegetables away in this country. That's a massive amount. Perhaps if we bought it locally and spent that little bit more we'd actually make sure we used it."

Dave agrees: "There really shouldn't be £2 chickens. It's much better to buy free range ones, as not only are we practising good husbandry but because the animals are allowed to grow and build up fat, you actually get a better product."

He continues: "We can always do it the Italian way as well, so if you're having pasta, just use a tiny amount of good quality meat."

Not only have the two been learning about the benefits of using local produce but they have taken home some new recipes too.

"There are some great techniques we've picked up from the chefs at home," Dave says.

The two are so keen on the day job, that when they get time off, they spend it at home in the North East with their families, doing (you've guessed it) more cooking!

"When I get home I try to give my wife, Jane, a break from the kitchen. We've got two teenage sons and a nine-year-old boy too; their friends are always over so it's like a soup kitchen in our house," Si explains.

Likewise, Dave says that a day off at home involves "cooking for the people I love".

He continues: "My partner's son is 19 and a student. Tonight I'm going to buy some beer and lamb and make us some tandoori kebabs, I really enjoy that."

Unfortunately though for the Hairy Bikers, their time at home is limited, with gruelling schedules keeping them busy. While they couldn't be happier with the work, they admit it can be tough.

Si explains: "It's very exciting and we're very privileged to get to do what we do for a living. There comes a point though where it's just another hotel room and you don't unpack your suitcase, you're just living out of it.

"This series was an epic task. We did 30 shows throughout the winter. Dave and I rode 15,000 miles on our motorcycles. We rode through snow, rain, hail, sleet, gale force winds and freezing rain. We're very proud of our achievement and having made a cracking programme but I don't think we'll be doing that many miles in the winter again!"

Extra time - Hairy Bikers

Before establishing themselves as The Hairy Bikers, Dave was a professional make-up artist, and Si was a locations manager for TV and film productions.

The worst food Dave has eaten was goat's penis in Vietnam.

Simon is a keen Newcastle United fan.

In the new series, they visit Blur musician Alex James at his cheese farm in Oxfordshire.

Si's wife Jane and youngest son Dillon, both suffer with type 1 diabetes, so Si always buys good quality food for the health benefits.